Kollam to be developed as Vizhinjam’s satellite port: Minister

The State government views the development of Kollam Port with utmost priority and has finalized plans to develop it as a satellite port of Vizhinjam, Minister for Women and Child Development, Animal Husbandry and Labour, Bindu Krishna said here on Saturday. She was speaking to the media after inspecting the port facilities.

Pointing out that several developmental projects were successfully implemented at the port during the 2011–2016 period, the Minister said that progress had since stagnated. “Kollam Port had received virtually no attention over the past decade, but the current government places high importance on developing the State’s two international ports alongside 18 feeder ports,” she said.

As part of this, comprehensive projects are being formulated for Kollam Port, with a high-level review meeting scheduled in Thiruvananthapuram next week. “Today’s visit was to assess infrastructure requirements firsthand and directly consult with the public, port authorities, and local representatives ahead of the discussions. The requirements identified during the inspection will be brought to the immediate attention of the Port Department and the Chief Minister,” she added.

Highlighting future prospects, the Minister mentioned that several proposals are under consideration, including the establishment of a floating dry dock and launching tourist cruise services from the port. Pointing out that no dredging has been carried out at the port for long she said that a minimum depth of eight meters is essential for vessels to berth. A fresh survey will be conducted to determine the current depth, followed by prompt dredging measures. Practical hurdles, such as the absence of a dedicated Port Health Officer required during shipping operations, will also be resolved.

Port authorities and fishers raised several critical concerns during the visit, including the inadequate depth of the existing wharf, customs-related bottlenecks, the aging fleet of coastal police boats, non-functional high-mast lights and security cameras, and rising incidents of theft from fishing boats. The Minister assured that immediate and necessary steps will be taken to address all these grievances. Mayor A.K. Hafeez, deputy mayor Udaya Sukumaran, Port Officer Jisman Jacob and other officials accompanied the Minister during the visit.